Eureka Timeline
Eureka Timeline
Contents
- 1 1853
- 2 1854
- 3 August =
- 3.1 26 August
- 3.2 September
- 3.3 07 October
- 3.4 09 October
- 3.5 10 October
- 3.6 12 October
- 3.7 17 October
- 3.8 19 October
- 3.9 21 October
- 3.10 25 October
- 3.11 27 October
- 3.12 11 November
- 3.13 17 November
- 3.14 18 November
- 3.15 23 November
- 3.16 25 November
- 3.17 27 November
- 3.18 28 November
- 3.19 29 November
- 3.20 30 November
- 3.21 02 December
- 3.22 03 December
- 3.23 04 December
- 3.24 04 December
- 3.25 05 December
- 3.26 06 December
- 3.27 07 December
- 3.28 09 December
- 3.29 14 December
- 3.30 14 December
- 4 1855
1853
24 September
A new act reduced the licence to 40 shillings for three months.[1]
1854
March
New Constitution Bill for Victoria and Bill to extend the Elective Franchise (conferring vote on holder of 12 months mining licence with certain residence qualifications) sent to England.v
28 March
The Crimean War starts when Great Britain and France declare war on Russia. [2]
May
Departure of Governor Charles La Trobe. Henry Foster acts at Lieut-Governor pending Charles Hotham's arrival.[3]
16 May
Chief Commissioner Wright recommends Robert Rede to fill the position of resident Commissioner at Ballarat. [4]
22 June
Captain Sir Charles Hotham arrives in Melbourne to take up the position of Lieutenant-Governor of Victoria. [5]
August =
Arrival of Governor Charles Hotham.[6]
26 August
Governor Charles Hotham and Lady Hotham visit Ballarat. [7]
September
Governor Hotham orders license inspections twice weekly instead of once per month.[8]
07 October
James Scobie was murdered near the Eureka Hotel owned by Francis Bentley. The inquest was held the same day and despite evidence implicating James Bentley the verdict pronounced James Scobie's wounds were inflicted by unknown person. [9]
09 October
James Bentley, Catherine Bentley and John Farrell were arrested for the murder of James Scobie.
10 October
Johannes Gregorius, the disabled Armenian servant of father Patrick Smyth failed to produce a license when requested by Constable James Lord. The policeman reportedly beat Gregorius. A priest's servant was not required to carry a license.
12 October
Magisterial Enquiry discharges James Bentley. [10]
17 October
A mass meeting of around 10,000 was held near the site of James Scobie's murder. They wanted a more thorough investigation of his death. As time passed the crowd grew aggressive. The hotel was looted and burnt to the ground. [11]
19 October
Police reinforcements arrived in Ballarat.
21 October
Andrew McIntyre, and Thomas Fletcher and Westerby were arrested for their alleged part in the destruction of the Eureka Hotel, [12] and charged with riot.[13]
A meeting was held on Bakery Hill where those in attendance agreed tp pay the bail Andrew McIntyre and Thomas Fletcher.[14]
25 October
Protest Meeting against the treatment of Father Patrick Smyth's servant.[15]
27 October
Garrison Commander Captain John Thomas developed a detailed plan for the defence of the Government Camp at Ballarat.[16]
11 November
The Ballarat Reform League officially came into existence on this day, although it had been active for several weeks,[17] after 10,000 diggers met on Bakery Hill for public meeting [18]
17 November
Governor Charles Hotham announced his attention to appoint a Royal Commission to inquire into the administration of the Gold Fields. [19]
18 November
James Bentley, Thomas Farrell and William Hance were convicted of the manslaughter of James Scobie. Catherine Bentley was found not guilty. [20]
23 November
James Bentley is convicted of manslaughter of James Scobie.[21]
25 November
McIntyre, Fletcher and Westerby were convicted of 'riot'.[22]
27 November
Ballarat Reform League representatives J.B. Humffray, George Black and Thomas Kennedy met with Governor Charles Hotham to demand the release of the prisoners. [23]
28 November
A detachment of the 12th Regiment entered Ballarat, passing though the Eureka Lead. They were attacked by angry diggers. Drummer John Egan, and civilian transport diver, Young, were wounded.
A dinner was held at Ballarat to the American Consul, James Tarleton. Distant shots were heard during the dinner and officials left hurriedly. James McGill rushed in and whispered a password, thought to be the Celtic 'Faugh-a-balagh' meaning 'clear the way. The diners knew the army was on the way.[24]
29 November
Over 10,000 people attended a 'Monster meeting' on Bakery Hill. [25]
30 November
In the late afternoon on [Bakery Hill] diggers swore an oath by the Southern Cross to defend their rights. [26]
02 December
The building of the Eureka Stockade was completed.[27] Assistant Commissioner Gilbert Amos of the Eureka Camp was briefly held prisoner by some of the Stockaders and his horse taken.
03 December
Eureka Stockade battle
A meeting of the Ballarat Reform League was organised for 2pm on 03 December 1854 at the Adelphi Hotel. The intention was to elect a Central Committee, and that each 40 members would have the power to elect one member for the Central Committee. [28]
04 December
Governor Charles Hotham proclaims martial Law in Ballarat. [29]
04 December
Major-General Nickle arrives in Ballarat and takes command. In Melbourne a public meeting of over 4,000 people condemned the actions of teh Government and called for the resignation of Foster.
05 December
A public meeting was held in Melbourne regarding measures to protect the city after the Eureka Stockade.
06 December
Colonel Secretary Henry Foster resigns. [30]
07 December
Royal Commission of Inquiry into Goldfields appointed. [31]
08 December
Ballarat Police Courts commit 13 diggers for trial on charges of high treason.[32]
09 December
Martial Law was repealed at Ballarat.[33]
14 December
The Gold Fields Commission sat for the first time. [34]
14 December
The first Ballarat sitting of the Gold Fields Commission sat at Bath's Hotel.
1855
January - March
Agitation for amnesty of Eureka prisoners.[35]
02 January
Governor Charles Hotham orders Gold License hunts to resume.
23 January
Henry Seekamp, the editor of the Ballarat Times, was tried and found guilty of sedition. On 26 January he was sentence to six months in prison.
February-March
Thirteen stockaders, with the exception of Thomas Dignum, were tried for treason and found not guilty. [36]
22 February
The trials of the thirteen diggers charged with treason commenced. John Joseph was the first to be tried.
28 February
John Manning was the second digger charged with treason to be tried.
19 March
Timothy Hayes, charged with treason, was tried.
21 March
Raffaello Carboni, charged with treason, was tried.
22 March
Jan Vennik, charged with treason, was tried.
23 March
Henry Reid, James Campbell, William Molloy, Jacob Sorenson and John Phelan, all charged with treason, were tried.
27 March
Gold Fields Commissioner reports in favour of gold fields reform. Local Courts to be elected by miners and 'miners right' of 1 point a year which confers electoral rights. [37]
22 May
New Electoral Act framed to give representation to mining areas in existing Legislative Council.[38]
14 July
Raffaello Carboni was one of nine diggers elected to the local court at Ballarat. [39]
10 November
Peter Lalor and J.B. Humffray were elected to the Legislative Council.[40]
23 November
Governor Charles Hotham proclaims assent of Queen to Constitution Act. [41]- ↑ McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1995, p 190
- ↑ McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1995, p 190
- ↑ Rich, Margaret (Ed), Eureka, Ballarat Fine Art Gallery.
- ↑ McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1995, p 190
- ↑ McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1995, p 191
- ↑ Rich, Margaret (Ed), Eureka, Ballarat Fine Art Gallery.
- ↑ McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1995, p 191
- ↑ Rich, Margaret (Ed), Eureka, Ballarat Fine Art Gallery.
- ↑ McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1995, p 192
- ↑ Rich, Margaret (Ed), Eureka, Ballarat Fine Art Gallery.
- ↑ McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1995, p 192.
- ↑ McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1995, p 193.
- ↑ Rich, Margaret (Ed), Eureka, Ballarat Fine Art Gallery.
- ↑ McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1995, p 193.
- ↑ Rich, Margaret (Ed), Eureka, Ballarat Fine Art Gallery.
- ↑ McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1995, p 193.
- ↑ McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1995, p 194.
- ↑ Rich, Margaret (Ed), Eureka, Ballarat Fine Art Gallery.
- ↑ Rich, Margaret (Ed), Eureka, Ballarat Fine Art Gallery.
- ↑ McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1995, p 194.
- ↑ Rich, Margaret (Ed), Eureka, Ballarat Fine Art Gallery.
- ↑ Rich, Margaret (Ed), Eureka, Ballarat Fine Art Gallery.
- ↑ McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1995, p 195.
- ↑ Corfield, J.,Wickham, D., & Gervasoni, C. The Eureka Encyclopaedia, Ballarat Heritage Services, 2004.
- ↑ McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1995, p 195.
- ↑ McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1996, p 196.
- ↑ Rich, Margaret (Ed), Eureka, Ballarat Fine Art Gallery.
- ↑ From Tent To Parliament, Berry Anderson & Co., Ballarat, p12.
- ↑ McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1996, p 197.
- ↑ Rich, Margaret (Ed), Eureka, Ballarat Fine Art Gallery.
- ↑ Rich, Margaret (Ed), Eureka, Ballarat Fine Art Gallery.
- ↑ Rich, Margaret (Ed), Eureka, Ballarat Fine Art Gallery.
- ↑ Rich, Margaret (Ed), Eureka, Ballarat Fine Art Gallery.
- ↑ McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1996, p 198.
- ↑ Rich, Margaret (Ed), Eureka, Ballarat Fine Art Gallery.
- ↑ McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1996, p 199.
- ↑ Rich, Margaret (Ed), Eureka, Ballarat Fine Art Gallery.
- ↑ Rich, Margaret (Ed), Eureka, Ballarat Fine Art Gallery.
- ↑ McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1996, p 200.
- ↑ McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1996, p 200.
- ↑ Rich, Margaret (Ed), Eureka, Ballarat Fine Art Gallery.